Prevention Council Director Heather Kisselback leaves post

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Heather Kisselback on Saturday offered her resignation, effective immediately, as executive director of The Prevention Council of Saratoga County.

This time, the executive committee of the board accepted it.

"We talked about her ability to effectively lead, manage, educate and communicate," Rich Fergson, the board president, said Saturday afternoon.

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"She felt it would be in the best interest of the council for her to step down, and we agreed," vice president Molly Scala added.

The Prevention Council is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to prevent the abuse of drugs and alcohol. The group administers a variety of programs, many that focus on youth and emphasize good decision-making. It relies heavily on public donations.

Three months ago, when Kisselback was arrested for driving while intoxicated, the board declined Kisselback's offer to resign, placed her on a six-month probation, instructed her to get counseling and prepared a statement in the event the incident ever became public.

That day came Thursday, when Kisselback's March arrest made the local news. The board released its prepared statement, which read in part: "The board members agreed that The Prevention Council has always been about helping people and that worthwhile goal should also apply to its staff."

However, it turns out the board misunderstood or was misinformed about the charge, and Ferguson and others thought Kisselback was merely "ticketed." She was charged in Essex County with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, which was pleaded down to a violation of driving while ability impaired, as is typical in such circumstances; it was a first offense, there was no accident and no one was hurt.

Ferguson said that at the time of the March incident, the organization was also going through other changes regarding location, staffing and funding, and it seemed best to keep Kisselback in place during the transitional period. She has been executive director since 2010.

"We believe very strongly in the great work that The Prevention Council does. We believe its mission is extremely important," Ferguson said. "Our ability to continue our mission is what's most important in this situation."

The entire board will soon discuss what happened and how to move forward.

The arrest hadn't been in the local news sooner because it occurred in Essex County. She was arrested by Ticonderoga police after she failed to dim her headlights and then was found to be intoxicated. Three weeks later, she pleaded guilty to driving while ability impaired, a violation.

In an email to The Saratogian Thursday night, responding to an invitation for comment, Kisselback wrote: "That night, I was the person I never thought I would be. The one who truly thinks, 'I only had two glasses of wine, I'm fine.' Well, I wasn't fine. And I'm just glad that my stupid decision didn't end in tragedy. I truly am sorry. All I can do now is try to make it right."